Education Minister Leighton Andrews has now removed the idea from forthcoming legislation and civil servants are analysing the responses to a consultation on a draft bill which would have changed the law.

He [Fortune-Wood] said local council officials did not have the expertise to decide whether children were being taught properly.

You’ve got to remember a lot of these families are home educators because of serious problems at school”

“It (the bill) effectively means the state is responsible for educating the children and parents have to seek permission for what otherwise would have been their responsibility.”

Here is more background information about the now delayed proposal:

Home schooling: Parents in Wales must register children September 3, 2012 BBC Wales

Last year 986 children of compulsory school age were known to have been taught at home.

But it is difficult to compile accurate figures because parents are not currently required to register home-schooled children with their local authority, unless the child is registered at a special school.

The authorities’ concern for accurate home education statistics is befuddling. Unless, we consider the real fear might be the lack of control. Another excerpt from the 2012 BBC article:

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said the existing laws had shortcomings.

Without a requirement for parents to notify councils “it is very difficult for local authorities to carry out their duties to ensure that children are receiving a suitable education,” he said.

Possibly, over the months, Andrews and others considered parents wanting the best for their beloved children might rule out the notion that local authorities need to follow up on private education.

Western Mail via icWales, Cardiff, U.K., 13 March 2006, Home educators face increased scrutinyUnder the Education Act 1996 parents have a legal right to teach their own children and do not have to follow the National Curriculum or be inspected.

This may change after consultation in England led some councils to suggest going into homes and asking children what they thought of their education, and more closely scrutinising how parents teach their children.

The proposal followed fears there that children may take legal action against local authorities under the Children Act in future if they believe their home education failed them.

…

The WAG drew up new guidelines on home education at the end of last year in conjunction with local home educators. It promised to consult before planning or making any changes.